Public libraries that integrate digital reading and writing to enhance services
The 18th EIFL Public Library Innovation Award call is for libraries integrating digital reading and writing into programmes and activities that enhance people’s reading and creativity.
By digital reading and writing we mean any reading or writing activity that uses electronic devices, like e-readers, computers or smartphones.
The activities can involve people of any age - children, youth, adults and seniors - and any digital devices or combination of devices.
The call is open to public and community libraries in developing and transition economy countries.
Tell us your story and enter the competition! The deadline for applications is 12 November 2024.
Examples of public library services using digital technology to enhance reading and creativity -
In South Africa, the City of Johannesburg Libraries runs a number of ‘Reading with Tech’ programmes that enhance the library's traditional literacy development work with children and young adults by offering fun and playful activities. The activities are built around free digital reading and creative writing resources, including apps like Google’s Read Along, Africa Storybook and African StoryMaker. Although the library has a limited number of digital devices (tablets, e-readers and computers) to use in digital reading and writing activities, over a five-year period they managed to involve over 3,000 children. The Funzi.mobi application was used to organize a Mobireadathon, a reading skills development competition for high schools. Piloted with a small number of children in 2022 in Johannesburg, the Mobireadathon is now a national programme and from February to April 2024 engaged 1,900 young readers from different provinces in South Africa.
In Latvia, Valmiera Public Library has introduced a ‘Read and get followers’ programme that uses the e-books reading app, Fastr Books, to make reading more popular with teenagers and to improve their literacy skills. The app allows users to create their personal e-library and read their favorite e-books on smartphones or tablet computers. Also, teens are able to connect through social media, chat about books, compare their reading progress, and share reviews and opinions about the books they are reading. In just a year (2014/2015), 414 teenagers learnt about e-books and social reading. For more than half of the readers, this was their first experience of reading e-books. A library survey found that one of the main reasons teenagers valued e-reading was that they could access e-books at any time and in any place.
In Kenya, in 2012 'Dr Robert Ouko' Memorial Community Library began taking e-readers pre-loaded with textbooks in all school subjects to rural schools to help improve children’s reading skills and to stimulate a love of reading. The collection included over 400 African and other international titles and reference books. Librarians provided guidance to teachers on how to integrate the e-readers into the education curriculum and teach children how to use the e-readers. During holidays, the e-readers were available at the library, and children used them in holiday reading activities, including the fun Reading Marathon Day that the library organizes. Some pupils reported reading 50 books in just one year. According to teachers, the programme also built children’s confidence in speaking the country’s two official languages, English and Kiswahili.
In Colombia, Kankuaka public library used digital writing activities to raise awareness of children about their community’s indigenous culture and traditions, and the need to protect the mountain ecosystem. Guided by librarians, the children went out into the community to gather information. They interviewed older people about the past, traditional beliefs, art, and music, collected food recipes, took photographs of traditional objects, and captured scenes from village life and the environment on camera and video. Back at the library they wrote stories to keep indigenous culture alive through a website created by the library. Starting with just 15 children in 2015, by 2017 the initiative had grown to include over 100 children. In addition to raising awareness about indigenous culture, the activities strengthened children’s writing and storytelling skills, stimulated creativity and strengthened relationships between the generations.
In Croatia, Rijeka City Library launched an online magazine, GKR Magazin (Rijeka City Library Magazine) in 2013 offering a place for young people in Rijeka to write about local news and topics that interested them. The library offered writing and editorial training for content producers. GKR Magazin led to an explosion of creativity. Between 2013 and 2014 the magazine published over 500 articles; built up a team of eight volunteer editors, designers and proofreaders, and had 68 regular contributors – mostly aged under 30 – providing a steady stream of short stories, news, essays, features, poetry, reviews, photographs and film.
WHAT WILL YOU WIN?
- Each winner will receive a trophy, and a prize of US$1,500.
- International publicity – EIFL will share your story widely through its publicity channels.
WHO MAY ENTER?
To enter the competition, you must meet all of the following criteria:
- You must be a public or community library.
- The library must be in a transition or developing economy country [pdf].
- The programme/activity should be new, i.e. started during or after January 2022.
- The programme/activity should have been operational for at least six (6) months, and must be operational at the time of application.
- You must provide evidence of positive results of the programme/activity including statistics regarding the number of people engaged, stories by participants about how the programme/activity has had a positive impact on their reading and / or writing abilities and creativity.
Note:
We will not accept applications that:
- Seek funding to start new programmes/activities;
- Only offer access to digital libraries or other digital resources;
- Only provide public access to ICT and general digital skills training.
WHEN CAN YOU ENTER?
This call is now open. The deadline for submitting applications is 12 November 2024.
NUMBER OF AWARDS
There will be more than one winner. The number of winners will depend on the quality of applications received.
FURTHER DETAILS AND HOW TO APPLY
Application form: English, French, Russian, Spanish
Rules and guidelines for submission
Selection and eligibility criteria
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Online Application Submission